Ryan Streeter
The Hill reports that Paul Ryan has said he wants to cut the oil subsidies. He offered this explanation:
We’re talking about reforming the safety net, the welfare system. We also want to get rid corporate welfare. And corporate welfare goes to agribusiness companies, to energy companies, financial services companies. So we propose to repeal all of that.
This is a great development.
Ryan's budget got all but 4 GOP votes, and yet we know that it was still a wedge within the party. Many Republicans would have preferred not to vote for Medicare reforms, and town hall meetings have reinforced their fears.
Now, Ryan has helped make the abstract notion of "simplifying the tax code" a concrete idea: ending welfare to oil companies. Some in the party see this as a "tax hike" for these companies.
Ryan is sticking to his guns, which should have a purifying effect on the party as the wafflers separate from the steadfast.
Comments